Technology in education has helped to narrow the educational gap that exists between countries, people with unique abilities and needs, and different language speakers.
Although access to education is a fundamental human right, not everyone has it. Those with disabilities or those residing in distant places have long faced substantial obstacles to obtaining a high-quality education.
In this blog, we’ll see different examples where technology has provided new opportunities for students, removing these constraints and raising the accessibility of education.
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Here are a few ways that technology has made education more accessible:
1. Electronic learning environments and MOOCs (Massive open online courses)
The students can access courses, learning materials, and assessment tools through MOOCs and e-learning platforms from any location in the world.
Massive open online courses are perfect for people who have physical or geographic restrictions and are unable to attend traditional classes.
Imagine how many people from hidden places in third-world countries have access to courses at the best universities in the world.
Or people with reduced mobility learning from home and preparing themselves to be competent in the working world.
Most MOOCs are free and offer optional paid certificates. They are provided by Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and other institutions.
Another important aspect of MOOCs is that Non-native speakers of English can now attend education more quickly because of the availability of several online courses in other languages.
2. Assistive technologies for disabled students
The creation of assistive devices that meet the requirements of students with impairments has been made possible by technology.
For instance, screen readers, Braille displays, and text-to-speech software make it simpler for students with visual impairments to access educational materials.
Similar to how learners with physical limitations can use computers and digital devices with ease thanks to voice recognition software and alternate input options.
For instance, Not Impossible Labs develops technologies to assist people with disabilities in overcoming obstacles and achieving their objectives. A 3D-printed prosthetic arm and a tool that enables ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) sufferers to communicate using eye movements are among their items.
3. Mobile Education
The ability for students to access educational content while on the road has changed education.
Learners can access online courses, e-books, podcasts, and other learning tools via smartphones and tablets without being restricted to a particular location or time.
We have two great examples of companies working on mobile apps for education.
A platform for language learning called Duolingo provides free websites and mobile apps. It makes learning languages more interesting and enjoyable by using game-like teaching.
Teachers can interact with students and parents via text messages, emails, and other channels using the mobile and web-based platform Remind. It provides a practical and simple way to communicate announcements, assignments, and reminders.
if you are interested in developing apps for education, this blog can be helpful. 4 Approaches to Mobile Apps Development, Which One To Choose?
4. Virtual reality and augmented
The use of virtual and augmented reality has allowed students to experience things that would otherwise be impractical or too expensive.
For instance, by utilizing virtual reality, students can travel the globe or become fully immersed in a historical event.
Imagine your children learning about the universe by watching it in augmented reality at the table in their classroom; it's amazing that it allows the children to notice the objects from different perspectives, compare sizes and interact with them.
By including interactive features in instructional materials, augmented reality can also be used to improve the educational experience.
A California-based firm called Labster offers digital lab simulations for science education. On this platform, students can explore scientific ideas in a secure and participatory setting thanks to augmented reality and virtual reality simulations.
5. Open Educational Resources (OER)
Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching, and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under the copyright that has been released under an open license, that permits no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
Online materials that are available for free and can be used for teaching, learning, and research. OER contains online resources such as textbooks, courses, and multimedia content.
These tools are a great approach to help students who might not be able to pay for traditional learning materials to get access to high-quality education.
A great example is Khan Academy. Learners can access educational content on a wide range of topics from science and engineering to computer programming, all from a personalized learning dashboard that enables them to study at their own pace.
Academic Earth brings together educational content and course materials from some of the best universities in the world, including Stanford, Princeton, U.C. Berkely, MIT, and Yale. On this site, students can watch and learn from more than 1500 videos.
In CodeBranch we develop solutions for several industries including Education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology is enhancing global access to education. The hurdles that have historically restricted access to education are being removed by technology, from online courses and e-learning platforms to assistive devices and virtual reality. Access to education has numerous advantages, from bettering individual prospects to bettering national economies. We may anticipate even more fascinating developments as technology progresses, which will improve education's accessibility even further.